important functions of the project. In addition, hydropower
provides benefits that are rarely found in other sources of energy. In
fact, dams built for hydropower schemes, and their associated
reservoirs, provide human well-being benefits, such as securing water supply, flood control and irrigation for food production, and
societal benefits such as increased recreational activities and
improved navigation.Furthermore, hydropower due to its associated reservoir storage can provide flexibility and reliability for energy production in
integrated energy systems. The storage capability of hydropower
systems can be seen as a regulating mechanism by which other
diffuse and variable renewable energy sources (wind, wave, solar)
can play a larger role in providing electric power of commercial
quality.While development of all the remaining hydroelectric
potential could not hope to cover total future world demand for
electricity, implementation of the remaining potential can make a
vast contribution to improving living standards in the developing
world (South America, Asia and Africa), where the greatest potential still exists.